Blog

PART 1

Jamil and I have a passion for working with kids, but we also have a passion for travel. And not just any travel – educational travel. I know it sounds nuts, but even when we’re not working with students on academic subjects, we’re learning, and we’re doing it by immersing ourselves in other cultures, venturing off the beaten path, and getting as much input from locals as possible. What may also separate Jamil and me from other travelers is that we quite often go with my parents. Traveling is so wonderful when it’s a family affair and when everyone can see the same sights and share the same memories.

For years, we have been writing down our experiences at the universities we visit – both in the states and abroad – but this year, it really struck us that we have some important insights to share about how to transform a family vacation into an amazing educational adventure. I have to warn you that, yes, we travel in style. We work our tails off, and our family vacations are our great escape. Plus, my parents are a little particular. You don’t have to stay in the hotels we recommend, but we’ll tell you WHY we selected the hotels we did and the methods we used to make our picks. At the same time, you don’t have to use our tour guides. Do we think they’re the best? Yes, but there are lots of services, and you definitely don’t have to do private tours. We just enjoy slightly more autonomy and prefer to avoid large groups.

Let’s start with a trip to Italy that might be a little different from the mainstream.

Here’s our route:

• Fly from Houston to London, London to Rome – on British Airways.
• Rent a car immediately at AVIS in Rome’s Fiumicino Airport
• Drive to Florence – yes, we were tired
• Spend four nights in Florence
• Drive back to Rome
• Spend four nights in Rome (including New Year’s)
• Take a train to Venice
• Spend four nights in Venice
• Drive back to Rome
• Spend three nights in Rome
• Fly from Rome to London, London to Houston

While this itinerary may include some of the hottest destinations in Italy, we took some interesting twists. This first post will cover our Florence escape.

As soon as we arrived at the AVIS counter in the Fiumicino Airport, I wondered if I had made a mistake. I can’t believe I didn’t take pictures of the line, but you can’t photograph laziness, and that was the disease plaguing the attendants at the counter. We waited for what seemed like decades and finally got our Peugeot, and I learned a valuable lesson about getting my car at the train station, NOT the airport. TRAVEL TIP: Generally, in Europe, avoid getting cars at airports simply because they charge an enormous markup for the convenience. However, I knew we had a 3+ hour drive to Florence, and I was eager to hit the Autostrada. To set the tone for the trip, I had downloaded an amazing lecture series, “Famous Romans,” by the late J. Rufus Fears, an incredible professor who headed the Department of Classics at the University of Oklahoma. I know it’s dorky, but we listened to it throughout our trip every time we got in the car, and Fears’ lectures brought new life to a city and country whose ruins and monuments I have visited multiple times. He covers incredible people and significant people with an enthusiasm for ancient history that I hope I can one day convey to someone else. Thankfully, my family nurtures this dorky side of my personality, and has even found a way to enjoy the same nerdy presentations!

When we arrived in Florence, we went straight to the hotel, the Antica Torre di Tornabuoni. I selected the hotel because of its Trip Advisor reviews. I’ll be honest, I adore Trip Advisor. While sometimes it has led me astray, it’s generally up-to-date and savvy. You won’t find yourself overpaying for a crummy hotel if you’re patient and can flip through the reviews. The Tornabuoni did not exactly live up to our expectations for comfort – although it was quiet and had an amazing rooftop lookout. In the U.S., even the Hampton Inn and Marriott Courtyard have bright-white, crackling bed sheets, and overseas, the laundry system simply doesn’t measure up unless you’re staying in a super-touristy-oriented hotels.  We were literally in the middle of everything and right next to the Arno. What’s to complain about, really?

That night, we ventured out for dinner and saw the magnificent Baptistery across from the Duomo. We were so excited about going into the Baptistery that we ran in and purchased tickets just as the doors were closing. Probably a dumb idea because the deal with those tickets is this: You have six days to use them to see Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Bell Tower, the Baptistery, and the Crypt, but once you swipe the tickets, they’re only active for 24 more hours.

Don’t make the same mistake Jamil and I did, having to purchase the tickets twice. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it wasn’t exactly satisfying, either. We should’ve just waited until we had a free day, but we didn’t.

The next morning, we woke up to meet with our guide in Florence, Roberto Martelli. Roberto is possibly the greatest guide anyone interested in Florentine history could ever hope for. We found him through the impeccable Rome Guide service that we used in Rome (more on that later!), and we wound up taking two tours with Roberto – one that was just for Jamil and me and one for my parents. With Roberto at our side, we watched in vivid mental Technicolor as Savonarola burned outside the Palazzo Vecchio and crept into a hidden painting gallery that apparently leads to secret passages that are only open on certain days of the week – we missed it!

For every nook and cranny, painting and sculpture, Roberto had a backstory, a tidbit of intrigue or a tale of woe. Unbelievably, Roberto even made me rethink my perspective of Machiavelli by giving me the facts of Machiavelli’s exile and showing me Machiavelli’s personal study. Roberto knew facts that obliterated my coarse association of Machiavelli’s behavior and belief system with the dogma proclaimed by The Prince. Taking it all in, I looked around at the people who were guideless, wandering aimlessly and picking up only hints of the majesty and history surrounding them. Without Roberto’s subtitles for the foreign scenes before me, I would have missed the meaning. I would again pay to hear him tell the same stories, to soak in more of the details and enrich my understanding of the Renaissance and its shockwaves.

The next day, we drove to another type of shrine, the Prada Space Outlet in Montevarchi. I came here for the first time with my best friend, Jennifer, in 2004 and in 2006. Back then, it was a total hole. And loaded with steals. Now, it’s been discovered, and although I scored a rockin’ pair of Miu Miu sparkly smoking slippers, I think the bloom is off the rose. I’ll probably keep coming back, simply because I like perusing the selection and because it’s such a trip to drive through an industrial, unstylish town and come upon a mecca for label seekers. Yeah, I wish I could say the thrill had left me altogether, but if there’s just one rad pair of platforms or one offbeat handbag, it’s worth the drive down the A1. On that drive we also stopped at a giant supermarket to pick up another necessity: a European flatiron. For anyone with a lot of thick hair, let’s abandon any further notions of electric converters for hair-smoothing machines; they blow fuses, and they start fires. I’ve seen smoke billow out of an unwitting outlet, used and abused by American voltage. Once was enough.

Okay, so back to the historical and educational stops in Florence. We did the obligatory basics: stopping in to pay our respects to Galileo and Michelangelo at the Basilica di Santa Croce, visiting the Uffizi Gallery, and strolling along the Arno. We ate incredible food – recommendations at the end – and we shopped at the phenomenal leather stores on the other side of the Arno. Although I had been to Florence three times before this trip, this was certainly my most magical experience there.

This trip convinced me that Florence is the ideal place for history-hungry students and travelers to visit, especially in the winter. The lines are reduced to less than half, and the weather is fantastic. In the heat of summer, sweaty tourists stick to one another in throngs like gummy bears left in the sun. The stench of the crowd overwhelms. The prices skyrocket, and pickpockets come out in droves. Most of all, the abundance of activity dampens the city’s sparkle. Everyone deserves the chance to see a calm Piazza della Signora. Take my word for it; this is a wonderful December destination.

Hotel recommendation:

If you can possibly spring for the St. Regis, it’s the way to go. My parents stayed there on their way back through Florence, and it was a premium hotel experience. They had the Michelangelo Suite, overlooking the river, and said it was spectacular. My mom particularly enjoyed the bar downstairs, where she sang with the pianist until the wee hours, so late we could hardly get in touch with them.

All-in-One Academics

Setting Yourself Up for Success

1973 West Gray Suite 17

Houston, TX

Saturday, January 24th

10:00am

Recently there has been some buzz in Houston among high school students and their parents about CLEP tests. CLEP stands for College Level Examination Program and is run by The College Board. These tests are offered in 33 subjects and are designed to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and test out of some lower level college courses. The main benefit to testing out of lower level courses is cost – taking a test is cheaper than a college course (only $80!) – and that it frees up time to take other classes that will count toward graduation so there is potential to graduate earlier than if you had earned all of your credits through course hours. This is a great way to get ahead – but it only works well in certain scenarios. Is it right for you? Read on to find out!

Are you attending a community college with the hope of transferring to a larger 4-year university? If so, you’ll need to mind your GPA. Schools like The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University will want to see a very high GPA from transfer applicants. Taking a CLEP test will not go toward your GPA – you’ll just have your score printed on your transcript. This means that with fewer classes being calculated into your GPA, each one will carry more weight. And since CLEP tests are lower level courses, you might be giving up an “Easy A” that could have helped your GPA in favor of some easy credit.

Another thing to consider is what is your intended major? While there are 33 CLEP tests available (see the list here), only 9 of them are transferable to UT and A&M will accept 16. (See UT’s list here and A&M’s here, or search for another school here) Before you delve into a test, make sure that the course you will be testing out of is one that you would have to take, and one that your desired university will accept.

If you are a community college student planning on transferring, the CLEP tests can be a great way to get ahead of the game… as long as you’ve done your homework and know that you wouldn’t be better off just taking the class for a high grade, your desired school would have you taking the class anyway, and that your desired school will accept the score for credit. Click here to be taken to the College Board’s CLEP website.

It’s August and the applications are out! We hope everyone is making the most of the time before school starts to get ahead and get there materials in and applications submitted as early on as you can. One element of the application that can be a little confusing is the resume. THE RESUME IS SO IMPORTANT! So, here’s a post that goes over some resume-related information to keep you on track.

The biggest thing is: students have to fill out the entire ApplyTexas and/or Common App forms – INCLUDING the activities sections.

For ApplyTexas:
– Students have to check the box that says they will send in an expanded resume.
– They still have to fill in what they can in the form. DON’T LEAVE IT BLANK!

For schools like UT and Texas A&M, students will get emails from the schools confirming the receipt of their applications. Those emails will contain student ID numbers. Students should add those student ID numbers to their resumes, right under their birth date.

Students will then have to upload their resumes directly to the A&M and UT sites.

For other schools on ApplyTexas, students can either email their resumes to the undergraduate admissions office or mail a hard copy.

For Common App schools:
Some schools actually have the option on their supplements of letting students upload their resumes directly to the Common App. Most schools, including TCU, SMU, OU, do not. Instead, students need to email their resumes to the admissions offices. The email addresses for all of the schools can be found on the Common App under the university’s Contact Info.

Usually, students send something along the lines of the following email:

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Jessica Givens, and I am an applicant for Fall 2015 to TCU. I would like to share with you additional information about my activities and accomplishments in high school, so I have attached my resume for your review. I hope you will add the document to my file.

Thank you so much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Name

So, that’s what you need to know! Your resume goes a long way toward telling the schools what you’re about, what your interests are, and how you align with the major you’re applying for. Make sure it receives the attention it deserves!

Can you believe it is already almost the end of July?! This summer is flying by. We’re in the midst of our third week of College Application Crash Courses and have worked with some amazing students thus far. We are so proud of all of the hard work they are putting in and they are putting together some incredible essays.  As students finish their course and share some of their experience and work with their parents, we check in with them to see what they thought of the course. Here are excerpts from two recent emails, both from parents with students who have been in our Crash Courses this summer.

I would like to commend you on your program. It is absolutely amazing that an 18 year old teenage male can attend a 5 day class from 9 to 4 and only come home with positive comments about the course. WOW! He is so relieved to have his college essays behind him. The process of writing and critiquing his essays was an empowering process which he will be able to utilize for a lifetime. He enjoyed the class and feels he has control of the application process. As a mother of two going to college at the same time, your course allows me to be a mom and not nag them about getting essays written and applications completed. I am a Speech-Language Pathologist with my own private practice, but I also have the burden of fighting Lyme Disease and Malaria so I do not have much extra energy for all of the college stress. Thank you so much for simplifying the process for me as a parent and for empowering my kids to be self sufficient!

– 2014 Summer Crash Course Parent

I am very pleased with the outcome of the class. Going in I was nervous that she would be jet lagged upon her return from Spain and wouldn’t make the investment in the class I hoped for. I was much relieved after speaking to her and seeing the results. Not only did she put in the time and effort she actually enjoyed it! She loved working with you. She actually said that signing her up for the class was the best decision we ever made. Bottom line I am very pleased with the class outcome and think this was some of the best money I ever spent. A great outcome and stress reliever for the entire family!

– 2014 Summer Crash Course Parent

It is so rewarding to work with so many amazing students and to hear from their happy families after their course – it is such a wonderful feeling!

We’ve had a great response so far to Jessica’s new book, Texas College Guide: The University of Texas at Austin. Now, in addition to it being available on Amazon, it is also available at a selection of bookstores and gift shops in the Houston area. Below is the current list and we will update it every few weeks as it changes. Additionally, if you’re interested in carrying the book, send us an email at info@allinoneacademics.com

Bella Madame Salon

2628 Chestnut Ridge Road, Kingwood, TX 77339

281-703-2679

Blue Willow Bookshop

14532 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079

281-497-8675

The Book Nook

5022 Highway 90A Suite J, Sugar Land, TX 77498

281-265-9886

Katy Budget Books

2450 Fry Road, Katy, TX 77084

281-578-7770

Out of the Box

5709 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77057

832-252-6222

The Villager Gift Shop

9311 Katy Freeway Suite B, Houston, TX 770024

713-461-2022

We filled all of our Platinum College Application Crash Courses this year in record time – which was fantastic! But we were still getting a lot of inquiries from students and parents once the classes were full. We came up with a whole new program to offer this summer: the Silver Summer Application Package! The goal of these courses is to set aside a number of hours in the summer to really focus and work on the college applications. Here’s what’s included:

12 hours of one-on-one application consulting

8 hours of resume and essay editing

Students will finish with one polished, targeted college essay plus three creative, original 500-word essays

The 12 hours are designed to be run for 3 hours per day over 4 consecutive days. Although some modifications may be made, these prolonged sessions are critical to fostering communication and trust between the admissions consultant and the student. For more information, or to sign up, please click here. 

The cost for this program is $1,875.

This is a great way to get a head start on senior year!

Everyone looks forward to relaxing in the summer – but there are some things that shouldn’t be left to flutter around in the summer breezes. What are we talking about? Test prep! Join us on Saturday, May 31st and hear from our senior test prep instructor, Errolynn Zetar, on why summer is a great time for test prep. She’ll share some tips, answer questions, and tell you about different summer options that are available.

 Errolynn Zetar / All-in-One Academics

Summertime Test Prep Info Session

 Saturday, May 31st from 11:00am – 12:00pm

at

All-in-One Academics Offices

River Oaks Shopping Center, Second Floor